Chapter 82: Confinement

Chang Qing didn’t want to talk about it anymore. Lu Zheng didn’t want to force him to come back either. His hair was still a little wet, and there was a spot of water on his forehead.

Lu Zheng wiped his face with a towel. His fair and handsome face was hidden behind the fluffy towel, it was a bit soft. “Are you still playing games?”

Chang Qing paused, shaking his head, “I’m done playing.”

He called Lu Hua down, and Lu Hua skipped downstairs, pulling the hem of her coat and shaking it. “What have you two been talking about for so long?”

Chang Qing said vaguely: “Nothing, children shouldn’t ask.”

Lu Hua pouted. “Well, you two have a little secret.”

Chang Qing was at a loss for words, but Lu Zheng said casually, “We’re adults, can’t we have secrets that belong to adults?”

Lu Hua snorted, “When you say it like that, I thought it was some little secret that isn’t suitable for children.”

Chang Qing changed the subject, “Where do you want to go?”

Lu Hua said, “Whatever, I just want to take a walk with you.”

As she spoke, she pulled Chang Qing forward a few steps and turned to look at Lu Zheng. “Second brother, don’t follow me. I also want to have a little secret with Qing Qing. I can’t tell you.”

Lu Zheng gave her a look. “Get out.”

Lu Hua made a face at him, and pulled Chang Qing out the door with a smile.

It was very strange. When he left he didn’t feel that the scenery around Lu’s house was so beautiful. When he came back, he had a different experience.

A neatly manicured lawn and flower beds, as far as the eye can see and an elaborate fountain. There was a domed building in the distance, containing facilities such as a gymnasium, KTV, game rooms, bars, and so on. Besides the Lu family, all the servants who work here can also use it, which could be regarded as a work benefit.

Some way back, there were also buildings such as greenhouses, workshops, warehouses, etc., which were actually not very luxurious. It has been some years since the house was built, and the decoration revealed a simple and old luxurious style.

Lu Hua dragged Chang Qing from the door to the big iron gate, and then walked around the fence.

Lu Hua, who always liked to chatter, seemed a bit preoccupied at this time, but unexpectedly she didn’t say anything.

Chang Qing thought it was a little strange, but he didn’t ask.

After a while, Lu Hua asked, “Qing Qing, won’t you come back?”

Chang Qing replied, “I haven’t decided yet. I may be back after a while.”

Lu Hua raised her chin and said, “Don’t lie to me. You certainly won’t come back if you say that.”

Chang Qing glanced at her in surprise, “Why do you say that?”

Lu Hua said arrogantly: “Because that’s the kind of person you are. I know you won’t come back!”

Chang Qing thought for a while, then asked, “You really want me to come back?”

Lu Hua nodded, and said in a firm voice, “Yes!”

Chang Qing asked, “Why?”

Lu Hua frowned, “Do I need a reason? If you don’t live at home, what’s the point of living outside? I’m already used to you being here, but you’re not here. It’s just… I’m not used to it.”

Chang Qing smiled, “Haven’t you gotten used to it after all this time?”

Lu Hua said, “Not used to it!”

She lifted her head and glanced at Chang Qing. After some thought, she said in a low voice, “I’ve really made a deal with third brother. He said that he won’t disturb you anymore. He agreed, and if he goes back on his word, I won’t like him anymore.”

When Chang Qing heard this, his mood immediately improved a lot, but there was one thing he had to make clear to Lu Hua, “I didn’t move out just because of your third brother. There were other reasons too. Taking everything into consideration it would be better for me to move away. You don’t understand it yet, but you’ll understand later.”

Lu Hua wasn’t very happy, “Are you coaxing me like a child?”

Chang Qing deliberately said: “Aren’t you a child?”

Lu Hua spoke with great conviction: “After the new year, I’ll be 14 years old. A child is only a child if they’re under 14 years old.”

Chang Qing said “Oh”, “You know a lot now, did that Teacher Li teach you that?”

Lu Hua nodded, and reluctantly admitted Li Xinyue’s strength, “Her lectures are quite interesting. “

Chang Qing asked: “Then do you like her now?”

Lu Hua glanced at him warily, “I don’t know, I just think she’s very good.”

Chang Qing repeated: “Do you like her now?”

Lu Hua said stiffly: “She likes second brother, so I don’t like her.”

Chang Qing was silent for a moment, and the corners of his lips curled up, showing a smile, “She likes your brother, which also proves that your brother is very good. She has great vision, which is a good thing. Why are you so worried? And your brother likes men, doesn’t he? You tell her about it, and if she’s smart, she won’t think about it anymore.”

Lu Hua said thoughtfully: “I’ll find a chance to talk to her.”

Chang Qing said: “She can’t be your sister-in-law. Do you still hate her?”

Lu Hua reluctantly said: “She’s okay.”

Chang Qing said: “Get along well with her. She’s your teacher. You should respect her.”

Lu Hua glanced at him and said, “You’re such a nag. If you don’t go home, I won’t let you talk to me.”

Chang Qing deliberately made a wounded expression, “Ah, I can’t even talk to you until I come back? What should I say then?”

Lu Hua couldn’t stand it and moved a few steps away, “Why are you making that expression? You’re so disgusting, ah. I don’t have so many things for you to talk about, you should talk about my second brother. He’s been acting like a psycho lately.”

Chang Qing paused, then pretended to ask casually: “What’s wrong with him?”

Lu Hua said: “He’s been like a psycho recently. It’s weird, and he’s weird too.”

She didn’t know what image came to mind but her whole body shivered and she couldn’t help but mutter, “He’s so weird.”

Chang Qing’s curiosity was aroused, and he asked, “What’s the matter? Don’t leave me hanging.”

Lu Hua touched the goose bumps on her body, then leaned close to Chang Qing. She grabbed his arm and said, “My brother has been coming home early lately. He brought his computer back to work. After working for a while, he dazes off.”

Chang Qing asked: “And then?”

Lu Hua took a breath and said, “His expression suddenly seemed like someone owed him millions and tens of millions. His face suddenly changed, and became a poker face again. Then he changed his face again, I think he might be schizophrenic.”

Her expression was a bit complicated, and she muttered: “I can’t believe that work can force people to this point. I really don’t want to go to work in the future. I also want to be a rich second generation with my third brother.”

Chang Qing: “…”

Lu Hua affirmed: “Yes, I just want to be a rich second generation who eats and waits to die. I don’t want to go to work. Seeing my second brother like this makes me feel so numb, I can’t stand it.”

Chang Qing intuitively felt that Lu Zheng’s behavior had something to do with his change of attitude towards him, but even if he was curious, it would be useless to ask Lu Zheng.

His curiosity was extinguished. He took a look at the sky. Winter nights always come faster. It was only five o’clock, and the sky was suffused with the rose-red color, that was the sunset glow.

Lu Hua noticed his gaze, followed his gaze, and saw the sunset glow in the sky. She exclaimed, “It’s so beautiful.”

Then she asked, “Do you want a picture? I’ll take one for you.”

Chang Qing wanted to refuse subconsciously, but Lu Hua didn’t give him a chance to refuse. She pushed Chang Qing, took out her phone and took a few pictures of his face. It was too late for Chang Qing to reach out to cover his face.

Lu Hua looked down at the picture on her phone and muttered, “I didn’t take it well.”

Chang Qing took the cell phone from her hand, adjusted the lens and smiled at Lu Hua. “Let’s take a picture together.”

Lu Hua blinked, and had a feeling of being dazzled by Chang Qing’s smile, “You should smile more. You look really good when you smile. There seems to be stars in your eyes. It’s so beautiful.” Lu Hua wasn’t stingy with her compliments to Chang Qing.”

Anyone who hears this kind of praise will be happy, and Chang Qing is no exception.

He smiled, put his arm around Lu Hua’s shoulders, and took a picture with the camera of his phone facing them, then gave it back to Lu Hua, “Take a look.”

Lu Hua took the phone, looked at it, and was quite satisfied. From this angle, they could still see the magnificent sunset behind them. Both of them have fair skin and the original picture was already very beautiful.

Fortunately, she wasn’t bad-looking, otherwise she would be rendered ordinary by Qing Qing’s side.

Lu Hua felt a little relaxed and joyful. She looked left and right, but looking at it wasn’t enough so she sent the photos to her circle of friends.

Putting back the phone, Lu Hua continued to take Chang Qing for a walk, and started chattering with him about her situation at school again.

Chang Qing was a very qualified listener. He listened quietly without interrupting, and occasionally gave a few words in response, which was enough for Lu Hua to keep talking.

When it was time for dinner, Lu Hua and Chang Qing went back.

When they arrived at the dining room, Lu Zheng and Lu Shi had already sat down. Lu Shi had already changed out of his dress and was only wearing two thin pieces of clothes.

Lu Hua gave him a warning look,  and Lu Shi impatiently averted his gaze, lowered his head and ate his own meal.

Chang Qing happened to sit opposite Lu Shi again. He thought for a while, but didn’t change his seat, and continued to sit there.

Lu Hua’s hands were quick. She had already filled a bowl of rice for him. She smiled at Chang Qing obediently and sweetly. “You need to eat more rice. I feel like you’ve lost weight, your face doesn’t look good.”

Chang Qing took the bowl from Lu Hua’s hand, watched her pull out a pair of chopsticks for him, and handed them to him.

“…” It feels a little strange, was Lu Hua so considerate before?

I don’t think so, right? When did Lu Hua become like this?

Chang Qing felt a little confused, but Lu Hua herself didn’t feel that anything had changed. She diligently finished serving the meal to Chang Qing, then sat down to eat herself. After a few bites, she remembered something. Then she raised her face and scooped a bowl of soup for Chang Qing. She put it by Chang Qing’s hand and said to Chang Qing, “Drink the soup. A bowl of soup must be drunk clean.”

Chang Qing: “…”

It’s a little uncomfortable.

He drank a few mouthfuls of soup and his eyes fell on Lu Zheng unconsciously.

Lu Zheng noticed his gaze, raised his eyes to look at him, as if he knew what he was thinking, he slightly raised the corners of his lips and smiled, “She was in charge of Lu Shi’s confinement.”

Chang Qing: “… Oh.”

Lu Shi called out from the side: “My confinement was a real pain, that’s only for women, okay?”

Lu Zheng said indifferently: “Just tell me whether it was Lu Hua who urged you to nurture your body.”

Lu Shi stopped, and his lips moved, “Ah, yes, yes, I didn’t deny it.”

Lu Zheng said, “You’re not out of confinement yet. Scoop yourself a bowl of chicken soup and drink it.”

Lu Shi was really uncomfortable with the “confinement” he mentioned, but he didn’t say anything more. He scooped up a bowl of chicken soup and drank it down in one gulp.

He has been raised well these days. His cheeks were fleshy, ruddy and well-improved. It was indeed thanks to Lu Hua.

He sighed, glanced at Lu Hua, and inevitably felt a little resentful. Very good, as soon as Chang Qing came back, she wouldn’t serve him soup anymore.

The author has something to say: The transformation from a little chick to a protective hen…I feel that Hua Hua has really grown up (sigh)